Rich in active gases or metals — a strong mineral character.
Buoyancy
Standard buoyancy
LowHigh
Soft water — natural, classic buoyancy.
SoufreSulfuresSulfates
About twenty kilometres northeast of Parral, in Chile's Maule Region, Termas de Catillo owes its renown to a spring said, by tradition, to have been discovered in 1730 by a Franciscan friar at the foot of Cerro Catillo. Set on a gentle plain in the Andean foothills at 350 metres altitude, the waters stand out for their composition of sulphates, sodium and magnesium chlorides, calcium carbonate, iron, and silica.
Known since the late eighteenth century, these waters even travelled to Europe: they were honoured at the international exhibitions of Paris in 1910 and London in 1911. Three centuries of history have earned the site the local nickname of "thermal source of life."
Insider tip — Termas de Catillo occupies a remote forested valley in the pre-Andean foothills of Maule, where sulfurous springs have been used for relaxation and therapy since pre-Columbian times. The low-key facility preserves much of the wild character of the landscape, with pools carved from the natural rock of the valley floor surrounded by native Chilean cypress and peumo trees. The mild Mediterranean climate of this part of Chile means the springs are pleasant to visit in every season, though autumn brings spectacular color to the hillside forest. Local families from Parral have made the termas a weekend tradition for generations.
